Adjustable padding device

ABSTRACT

Adjustable padding device for a piece of furniture used for sitting and/or lying has a flat elastically deformable padding element and an adjustable supporting device having a main body for supporting the padding element in a plane. Padding device also has an electric-motor adjusting device, on the supporting device for adjusting part of supporting device in its inclination and/or height of the part of supporting device, so padding element is connected to supporting device and to the adjusting device and forms a unit, and so padding element and the supporting device and the adjusting device are in a common casing. Common casing substantially completely surrounds the unit including the padding element and the supporting device together with the adjusting device. A charging/discharging device is provided for pressure loading/pressure relief of padding element, and loading/relief device is in the common casing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of application no.PCT/EP2016/056655, filed Mar. 24, 2016, and this application claims thepriority of German Application No. 10 2015 104 950.3, filed Mar. 31,2015, and this application claims the priority of German Application No.10 2017 122 499.8, filed Sep. 27, 2017, and each of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an adjustable padding device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Padding devices of this type are generally known, and have a supportdevice, for example in the form of a slatted frame. The support devicehas a base body with at least two support parts that are adjustablerelative to one another, and on which spring elements are situated whichsupport the padding when the support device is being used. An electricmotor-driven adjustment device is provided for adjusting the supportparts relative to one another.

A support device is known from DE 10 2010 021 362 A1, in which aloading/relief device for achieving pressure loading or relief of thepadding is provided. The pressure loading/relief device is situatedbeneath the base body of the support device.

Similar support devices are also known from DE 10 2008 031 043 A1, DE 202005 009 180 U1, WO 2012/052972 A1, and DE 29509909 U1.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide an adjustable padding devicefor seating and/or lounging furniture, having expanded functionality.

This object is achieved by the invention set forth herein.

According to the invention, the functionality of the padding device isexpanded by providing a loading/relief device for achieving pressureloading or relief of the padding element, the loading/relief devicebeing accommodated in a shared casing.

In this way, it is possible not only for the padding device to beadjustable by electric motor, but also for it to carry out a massagefunction, for example. As a result of all components of the paddingdevice, including the loading/relief device, being accommodated in theshared casing, the padding device according to the invention gives thevisual impression of a conventional mattress without an electricmotor-driven adjustment device and a loading/relief device.

A further advantage of the padding device according to the invention isthat it has a low installation height.

One advantageous further embodiment of the invention provides that theloading and relief device for achieving pressure loading or relief actson least one spring element. In this embodiment, at least one springelement is thus acted on with pressure or is relieved of pressure by theloading and relief device.

The loading and relief device may operate according to any givensuitable operating principle, and may be designed as a pneumatic loadingand relief device, for example. In this regard, one particularlyadvantageous further embodiment of the invention provides that theloading and relief device is an electromechanical loading and reliefdevice. Such electromechanical devices have a relatively simple,inexpensive design, and allow pressure loading or relief, correspondingto any given kinematics, within broad limits.

One advantageous further embodiment of the above-mentioned embodimentprovides that the loading and relief device has at least one electricmotor that is in operative connection with at least one pressureelement, by means of which a pressure force is or may be exerted on atleast one spring element in order to achieve pressure loading or relief.

This results in a particularly simple design of the loading and reliefdevice, in that the electric motor drives at least one pressure elementthat provides pressure loading or relief of the padding. In principle, asingle pressure element is sufficient for achieving pressure loading orrelief. According to the invention, however, two or more pressureelements may also be provided, so that the number of pressure elementsis selectable within broad limits, depending on the particularrequirements. The same correspondingly applies for the design of thepressure elements. Furthermore, according to the invention it issufficient in principle when a single electric motor is provided.However, two or more electric motors may be provided if necessary,depending on the particular requirements.

Another advantageous further embodiment of the invention provides acontrol device for controlling the electric motor or the electricmotors. The control device may in particular have a manual switch viawhich a user of the support device may select whether, to what extent,or corresponding to which kinematics, pressure loading or relief is tobe exerted.

One advantageous further embodiment of the above-mentioned embodimentprovides that the control device controls the electric motor or theelectric motors in such a way that the pressure element or the pressureelements act(s) on at least two spring elements sequentially in time. Inthis embodiment, the pressure loading or relief of an individual springelement may vary over time, so that, due to appropriate pressure loadingor relief of adjacently situated spring elements, pressure loading orrelief that varies over time, and in particular is “rolling,” may beachieved, as is known per se for so-called massage chairs, for example.

One advantageous further embodiment of the above-mentioned embodimentprovides that the control device controls the electric motor or theelectric motors in such a way that at least one pressure element acts onat least two spring elements sequentially in time. This results in aparticularly simple design.

Another extremely advantageous further embodiment of the inventionprovides that the or each pressure element loosely acts on the or eachassociated spring element. In this embodiment, a connection between thepressure element and the associated spring element is not necessary,thus simplifying assembly and disassembly of the loading and reliefdevice, also for maintenance, for example. Another advantage of thisembodiment is that the pressure element acts on an associated springelement with pressure for achieving pressure loading, while the pressureelement is otherwise not in contact with the spring element, so that thespring element then develops its full spring effect.

Another advantageous further embodiment of the invention provides thatthe spring elements are bed frames.

According to another further embodiment of the invention, the springelements may also be elastic slats.

The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to theappended drawings, in which embodiments of a support device according tothe invention is illustrated. All features that are described,illustrated in the drawings, and claimed in the patent claims, alone orin any combination, constitute the subject matter of the invention,regardless of their description or illustration in the drawings, andregardless of their recapitulation in the patent claims.

Relative terms such as left, right, up, and down are for convenienceonly and are not intended to be limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a highly schematic perspective view of one embodiment of apadding device according to the invention that is adjustable by electricmotor;

FIG. 2 shows a highly schematic first side view of the padding deviceaccording to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a highly schematic second side view of the padding deviceaccording to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the padding device according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a paddingsupport device 2 according to the invention that includes a base body 20embodied as a slatted bed frame carrying a plurality of spring elements,formed by slats;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the charging/discharging device 26;

FIG. 7 shows the interaction between the pressure exerting element 36and the slat 24;

FIG. 8 shows support device 2, with some of slats omitted to showdetails of the charging/discharging device 26;

FIG. 9 shows another view of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 shows another view of the embodiment of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 11 shows another view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a padding device according to theinvention that is adjustable by electric motor, having a support device2 for supporting padding of seating and/or lounging furniture, inparticular a mattress of a bed. In the illustrated embodiment, thesupport device 2 is designed as described in EP 1 239 753 B1, thecontents of which are hereby fully incorporated by reference into thepresent patent application.

As described in EP 1 239 753 B1, the support device 2 has a base bodywith at least two support parts that are adjustable relative to oneanother, and on which spring elements are situated which support thepadding when the support device is being used. FIG. 1 illustrates apadding element 4 in the form of a mattress. As further described in EP1 239 753 B1, the padding element 4 together with the support device 2and an electric motor-driven adjustment device is joined to form a unitfor adjusting the support parts relative to one another.

The padding element 4 together with the support device 2 and theelectric motor-driven adjustment device is accommodated in a sharedcasing which essentially completely surrounds the unit comprising thepadding element 4 and the support device 2 together with the adjustmentdevice. The casing is symbolically represented by a dashed line 6 inFIG. 3.

The embodiment illustrated in the drawings is thus an adjustable paddingdevice in the sense of EP 1 239 753 B1.

In the illustrated embodiment, a charging/discharging device orloading/relief device 8 is provided for achieving pressure loading orrelief of the padding. The loading/relief device 8 may operate accordingto any given suitable operating principle. In the illustratedembodiment, the loading/relief device is depicted as a pneumaticallyoperating device. For achieving pressure loading or relief, theloading/relief device acts on at least one spring element, for examplean elastic slat, of the support device. For this purpose, in theillustrated embodiment the loading/relief device has a plurality ofpressure elements situated in succession in the longitudinal directionof the support device 2; in FIG. 1, only one pressure element is denotedby reference numeral 10. The pressure elements 10 situated in successionin the longitudinal direction of the support device 2 act on springelements situated in succession in the longitudinal direction of thesupport device 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure elements10 each have a cushion-like design and are inflatable by means of apump. The pneumatic control takes place via valves in such a way thatthe pressure elements 10 are inflatable independently of one another.

As indicated in FIGS. 2 through 4, the loading/relief device is situatedwithin the profile height of the base body of the support device 2.According to the invention, an arrangement of the loading/relief device8 within the profile height of the base body of the support device 2 isunderstood to mean that the components of the loading/relief device 8are situated within an upper delimiting plane and a lower delimitingplane that are defined, respectively, by the top side and the bottomside of the base body of the support device 2, while pressure elements,by means of which the loading/relief device 8 brings about pressureloading or relief of the padding, protrude beyond the profile heightduring operation of the loading/relief device. In the illustratedembodiment (see FIG. 2), the pressure elements 10 are situated withinthe profile height of the support device 2 in the uninflated state,whereas in the inflated state they protrude beyond the profile height,as required for achieving pressure loading of the padding 4.

According to the invention, the loading/relief device 8 is accommodatedin the shared casing 6, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

In the illustrated embodiment, the padding has a foam cover 12 on whicha user lies during use of the support device 2. By inflation of thepressure elements 10, a pressure force is exerted on spring elements,for example elastic slats of the support device 2, situated between thefoam cover 12 and the pressure elements 10; the spring elements transmitthe pressure force to the foam cover 12 on which a user lies during useof the support device 2. A massage effect, for example, is achievable inthis way.

Although the loading/relief device 8 is illustrated in the drawings ofFIGS. 1-4 as a pneumatically operating device, in practice it ispreferred for the loading/relief device to be an electromechanicalloading/relief device having least one electric motor that is inoperative connection with at least one pressure element, by means ofwhich a pressure force is or may be exerted on at least one springelement in order to achieve pressure loading.

For controlling the electric motor or the electric motors, a controldevice is provided that preferably controls the electric motor or theelectric motors in such a way that the pressure element or the pressureelements act(s) on at least two spring elements sequentially in time.The control device preferably controls the electric motor or theelectric motors in such a way that at least one pressure element acts onat least two spring elements sequentially in time. In this way, rollingpressure loading may be provided, as is known for so-called massagechairs, for example.

In the sense of a simple and maintenance-friendly design, it ispreferred that the or each pressure element loosely acts on the or eachassociated spring element. This means that the pressure element has nofixed mechanical connection to the spring element, and in the activestate exerts a pressure force on the associated spring element, whilethe pressure element in the inactive state is retracted by the springelement, so that in this state the spring effect of the spring elementis not impaired, and in this state the spring element is thus freelyresilient and its spring effect is thus not adversely affected in thisstate.

Accordingly, in FIGS. 5-11, there is shown in another preferredembodiment of the invention, a support device 2 directed to the use ofsprings to carry out the invention.

FIG. 5 depicts a support device 2 which is part of the padding deviceaccording to the invention. The support device 2 includes a base body 20which is embodied as a slatted bed frame carrying a plurality of springelements, which are embodied as flexible slats. In FIG. 5 only two slatsare referenced by reference numerals 22, 24. The upper side of the slatsdefine a support plane, on which, in use, a padding element of thepadding device is supported.

In order to provide a massage function, a charging/discharging device 26is provided which will be described hereinafter in greater detail.

FIG. 6 depicts a schematic view of the charging/discharging device 26.

The charging/discharging device 26 includes at first slide 28 beinglinearly movable in the longitudinal direction of the padding device, assymbolized in FIG. 6 by a double arrow 30, by means of a first linearactuator 32 along a linear axis, the first slide 28 being in operativeconnection with a first electric motor 34, the first slide 32 carryingat least one arm 33, the free end of which carrying a pressure exertingelement 36 for charging/discharging interaction with the slats 22, 24.

The pressure exerting element 36 is embodied as a wheel or a roller.

The pressure exerting element 36 is adjustable relative to the supportplane defined by the slats 22, 24. An adjustment drive 38 is arrangedfor adjusting the pressure exerting element 36 relative to the supportplane, as symbolized by a double arrow 40 in FIG. 6, the adjustmentdrive 38 including a second electric motor. The adjustment drive 38 willbe described hereinafter in greater detail with reference to FIG. 11.

The slats 22,24 are connected to and sandwiched between flexible straps,which are symbolized by broken lines 40, 42 in FIG. 6.

In use, in order to cause a massage effect upon a user resting on thepadding device, the first slide 28 is moved along its linear axis bymeans of the first linear actuator 28 to the left in FIG. 6.

The pressure exerting element 36 is adjusted toward the lower side ofthe slats 22, 24 by means of the adjustment drive 38, so as to interactwith the slats 22, 24.

FIG. 7 depicts the interaction between the pressure exerting element 36and the slat 24, wherein the pressure exerting element 36 is chargingthe slat 24 so as to protrude over the support plane. As can been seenfrom FIG. 7, the pressure exerting element 36 abuts against the side ofthe strap 40 facing away from the slats 22, 24.

As it is evident from FIGS. 6 and 7, upon linear motion of the firstslide 28 along the longitudinal direction of the support device 2, theslats may be charged consecutively so as to effect a ‘rolling’ massageeffect.

An embodiment for putting the basic principle illustrated in FIG. 6 andFIG. 7 into practice will now be explained in greater detail withreference to FIG. 8 to FIG. 11.

FIG. 8 depicts the support device 2, wherein some of slats are omittedin order disclose details of the charging/discharging device 26.

In this embodiment, in addition to the charging/discharging device 26, afurther charging/discharging device 26′ is provided. Thecharging/discharging devices 26, 26′ are arranged so as to cause amassage effect in different areas of the padding device. Bothcharging/discharging devices 26, 26′ have the same construction.Accordingly, in the following only the charging/discharging device 26will be described in greater detail. For ease of reference, in FIGS. 9to 11 only the charging/discharging device 26 is shown, while thecharging/discharging device 26′ is omitted.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the charging/discharging device 26 includes thefirst slide 28, which is linearly movable in the longitudinal directionof the padding device by means of the first linear actuator along alinear axis. The linear axis is defined by a first linear guide 44extending in the longitudinal direction of the support device 2.

The first slide 28 is in operative connection with the first electricmotor 34, the first slide carrying the arm 33 (see FIG. 9 and FIG. 10),the free end of which carries the pressure exerting element 36 forcharging/discharging interaction with the slats 22, 24. The pressureexerting element 36 is embodied as a wheel or roller, which is rotatablerelative to the arm 33, abutting against the side of strap 40 facingaway from the slats 22, 24 (see in particular FIG. 10).

In the illustrated embodiment, the first slide 28 carries at least twoarms, namely the arm 33 and additional arm 33′, each of the arms 33, 33′carrying a pressure exerting element 36 and 36′ respectively, thepressure exerting elements 36, 36′ being spaced apart from each othertransverse to the longitudinal direction of the padding device, as canbe seen best from FIG. 10.

The pressure exerting elements 36 and 36′ are adjustable relative to thesupport plane defined by the slats, the adjustment drive 38 beingarranged for adjusting the pressure exerting elements 36, 36′ relativeto the support plane.

The first slide 28 carries a pivot shaft 46 (see FIG. 10) defining apivot axis, the arms 33, 33′ being connected to the pivot shaft 46 in amanner fixed against rotation, the adjustment drive 38 being arrangedfor pivoting the pivot shaft 46 about its pivot axis, so as to adjustthe pressure exerting elements 36, 36′ relative to the support plane bypivoting the arms 33, 33′. Consequently, the arms 33, 33′ have thefunction of pivot levers.

In order to move the first slide 28 along the first linear guide 44 afirst linear actuator including a first spindle drive 48 (see FIG. 10)is provided. The first spindle drive 48 includes a first spindleextending in the longitudinal direction of the first linear guide 44 andbeing fixed against rotation. A first spindle nut is threaded on thefirst spindle and is in rotary drive connection with the output shaft ofthe first electric motor 34 via a worm gear. The first spindle nuttogether with the worm gear and the output shaft of the first electricmotor is received within the first slide 28, which has a housing-likestructure.

Upon rotation of the drive shaft of the first electric motor 34 thefirst spindle nut rotates. Consequently, the first slide 28 moves alongthe first linear guide 44 in one direction or the other, depending fromthe sense of rotation of the spindle nut. Consequently, the slidetogether with the pressure exerting elements 36, 36′ is positioned inthe longitudinal direction of the first linear guide 44, so as to chargedifferent slats.

In parallel to the first linear guide 44 a second linear guide 50 (seeFIG. 9) is provided. On the second linear guide 50, a second slide 52 isguided in the longitudinal direction of the support device 2.

On the second slide 52, the pivot shaft 46 is mounted so as to rotateabout its pivot axis. By means of pivot shaft 46 the second slide 52 iscoupled to the first slide. Consequently, both slides 28, 52 movesynchronously, when the first slide moves upon actuation of the firstelectric motor 34.

The adjustment drive 38 will now be described in greater detailreferring to FIG. 11.

The adjustment drive 38 includes a second linear actuator including asecond electric motor 54 and a second spindle drive 56. The secondelectric motor 54 is in rotary drive connection with a rotatable spindleof the second spindle drive 56.

On the spindle, a second spindle nut 58 is located in a manner fixedagainst rotation. The second spindle nut 58 constitutes the outputelement of the second spindle drive. Consequently, upon actuation of thesecond electric motor 54 the spindle rotates causing the second spindlenut 58 to move in the axial direction of the spindle.

Referring now to FIG. 11, for rotating the pivot shaft 46 about itspivot axis upon linear movement of the spindle nut 58, a connecting link60 is provided. A first end of the connecting link 60 is connected tothe spindle nut 58 by a first hinge joint 62, a second end of theconnecting link 60 being connected to the pivot shaft 46 by means of asecond hinge joint 64 eccentrically to the pivot axis of the pivot shaft46, so as to pivot the pivot shaft 46 upon linear motion of the spindlenut 58.

A control device 64 (see FIG. 6) is provided for controlling theelectric motors 34, 54. Upon actuation of the first electric motor 34,the slides 28, 52 are positioned relative to the slats 22, 24 along thelinear guides 44, 50 so as to charge different slats according to therespective position of the slides 28, 52. Upon actuation of the secondelectric motor 54, the pivot shaft 46 pivots causing the pressureexerting elements 36, 36′ to charge the respective slat. The intensityof the resulting massage effect may be controlled by controlling thepivot angle of the pivot shaft 46.

The invention provides a support device having a high level offunctionality, and which is not only adjustable by electric motor, butalso has an integrated loading/relief device for achieving pressureloading or relief of the padding.

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, itis understood that it is capable of further modifications, and usesand/or adaptations of the invention and following in general theprinciple of the invention and including such departures from thepresent disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in theart to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to thecentral features hereinbefore set forth, and fall within the scope ofthe invention.

1. An adjustable padding device for seating and/or lounging furniture,the device comprising: a) at least one flat, elastically deformablepadding element; b) at least one support device with a base body forsupporting the padding element in a planar manner; c) the paddingelement together with the support device is joined to form a unit; d)the padding element together with the support device is accommodated ina shared casing which essentially completely surrounds the unitcomprising the padding element and the support device; e) acharging/discharging device for achieving pressure loading or relief ofthe padding element is provided; and f) the charging/discharging deviceis accommodated in the shared casing.
 2. The device according to claim1, wherein: a) the charging/discharging device acts on at least onespring element to achieve pressure loading or relief.
 3. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein: a) the charging/discharging device is anelectromechanical loading/relief device.
 4. The device according toclaim 3, wherein: a) the charging/discharging device includes at leastone electric motor, the at least one electric motor being in operativeconnection with a pressure exerting element, by which pressure isexerted or exhertable on at least one spring element effecting apressure charging/discharging function.
 5. The device according to claim4, wherein: a) a control device for controlling the electric motor orthe electric motors.
 6. The device according to claim 5, wherein: a) thecontrol device controls the electric motor or the electric motors insuch a way that the pressure element or the pressure elements act(s) onat least two spring elements sequentially in time.
 7. The deviceaccording to claim 5, wherein: a) the control device controls theelectric motor or the electric motors in such a way that at least onepressure element acts on at least two spring elements sequentially intime.
 8. The device according to claim 4, wherein: a) the pressureelement loosely acts on the or each associated spring element.
 9. Thedevice according to claim 2, wherein: a) the at least one spring elementis a bed frame.
 10. The device according to claim 2, wherein: a) the atleast one spring element is a springy slat.
 11. The device according toclaim 4, wherein: a) the charging/discharging device includes at leastone slide being linearly movable in a longitudinal direction of thepadding device by a linear actuator, the slide carrying at least onearm, a free end of which carries the pressure exerting element forcharging/discharging interaction with the at least one spring element.12. The device according to claim 11, wherein: a) the at least one slidecarries at least two arms, each of the arms carrying a pressure exertingelement, the pressure exerting elements being spaced apart from eachother transverse to the longitudinal direction of the padding device.13. The device according to claim 11, wherein: a) the at least onespring element is a slat, the slat being connected with a least oneflexible strap, the at least one strap extending in the longitudinaldirection of the padding device, the at least one pressure exertingelement abutting against the strap for interaction with the strap forcharging/discharging the slats.
 14. The device according to claim 11,wherein: a) the pressure exerting element is a roll or a roller.
 15. Thedevice according to claim 11, wherein: a) the linear actuator includinga spindle drive.
 16. The device according to claim 15, wherein: a) theat least one slide includes a spindle nut or is connected with a spindlenut, the spindle nut being fixed against rotation and being movable inthe axial direction of a spindle, the spindle being in drive connectionwith the at least one electric motor.
 17. The device according to claim1, wherein: a) at least two charging/discharging devices are provided,the at least two charging/discharging devices being spaced apart fromeach other in the longitudinal direction of the padding device forinteracting with different areas of the same.